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Routine Inspections
Download Routine Inspection Schedule and Printable Checklists
ROUTINE SELF-PERFORMED INSPECTION SCHEDULE:
This schedule outlines weekly, monthly, and quarterly inspections you can do on your own to keep your systems in good working condition. If you have questions about the schedule or checklists, or if you need assistance with these routine inspections, use our contact page to locate and speak with a Summit Fire & Security fire safety professional at the branch nearest you.
DOWNLOAD PDF WITH ALL CHECKLISTS:
Link to PDF with ALL Checklists
DOWNLOAD INDIVIDUAL CHECKLISTS:
Weekly:
Electric Driven Fire Pump & Pump Room
Diesel Driven Fire Pump & Pump Room
Monthly:
Electric Driven Fire Pump & Pump Room (Same as Weekly Checklist)
Fire Sprinkler Control Valve
Fire Sprinkler Dry Pipe, Preaction & Deluge
Fire Extinguishers (See topic description below and use the back of the tag on the extinguisher.)
Commercial Kitchen Inspection
Dry Chemical Inspection
Clean Agent System
Exit & Emergency Lights
Quarterly:
Fire Sprinkler Wet Pipe & Standpipe
Fire Department Connection
View Inspection Information by Topic
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Visually inspect components on the dry pipe system.
Why it’s important: Dry pipe sprinkler systems are often found in areas that need sprinkler head coverage, but cannot maintain a temperature above 40 degrees.
Example: Attics and loading docks in climates where freezing weather is a possibility, are popular uses of dry pipe sprinkler systems, however, they can be used for many other applications.
Checklist: Dry Pipe, Preaction and Deluge systems are very similar in their monthly required NFPA visual inspections.
If you have any of these systems on your property, use the below checklist to ensure that all aspects of your Dry Pipe, Preaction and Deluge Fire Suppression systems are in good shape. This checklist is taken directly from NFPA 25 v 2023: 13.4.3.1.1, 13.4.4.1.1, 13.4.5.1.2 and 13.10.2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Fire Sprinkler Dry Pipe, Preaction & Deluge Inspection Checklist
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Visually inspect components on the preaction system.
Why it’s important: Preaction fire sprinkler systems are used in very sensitive environments, where water is only needed in the piping network when it is absolutely critical.
Example: Museums and data center rooms are famous for these types of systems.
Checklist: Dry Pipe, Preaction and Deluge systems are very similar in their monthly required NFPA visual inspections.
If you have any of these systems on your property, use the below checklist to ensure that all aspects of your Dry Pipe, Preaction and Deluge Fire Suppression systems are in good shape. This checklist is taken directly from NFPA 25 v 2023: 13.4.3.1.1, 13.4.4.1.1, 13.4.5.1.2 and 13.10.2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Fire Sprinkler Dry Pipe, Preaction & Deluge Inspection Checklist
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Visually inspect components on the deluge system.
Why it’s important: : Deluge fire suppression systems provide immediate, large-scale fire control in high-risk environments where fire can spread quickly and cause severe damage.
Example: These types of systems are usually reserved for industrial sites in which a lot of water is needed out of all the sprinkler nozzles at once.
Checklist: Dry Pipe, Preaction and Deluge systems are very similar in their monthly required NFPA visual inspections.
If you have any of these systems on your property, use the below checklist to ensure that all aspects of your Dry Pipe, Preaction and Deluge Fire Suppression systems are in good shape. This checklist is taken directly from NFPA 25 v 2023: 13.4.3.1.1, 13.4.4.1.1, 13.4.5.1.2 and 13.10.2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Fire Sprinkler Dry Pipe, Preaction & Deluge Inspection Checklist
Inspect Monthly: See Checklist below.
Ensure that control valves are in the open position and marked.
Why it’s important: Control valves must be in the open position for water to flow through the sprinkler system. If a valve is closed, the system will not activate correctly in a fire. Valves should be visibly marked to prevent accidental closure and checked regularly to confirm they’re in the correct position.
Example: In a commercial high-rise, control valves may be located in locked utility rooms or mechanical spaces. They can be closed unintentionally by someone on your property not understanding their importance, therefore, rendering your sprinkler system useless. Occasionally, maintenance activities or accidental tampering could leave a valve in the closed position. By checking that all control valves are open and clearly marked, building staff can help avoid disruptions in the sprinkler system’s functionality.
Checklist: NFPA requires you to visually inspect all the control valves on your property once a month. This checklist accommodates two control valves, however, you could have more than two on your property. We suggest you use this checklist and keep it by each of the control valves on your property. This is taken directly from NFPA 25 v2023: 13.3.2.2 and will keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below
Test emergency lights for functionality and ensure exit signs are illuminated and clearly visible.
Why it’s important: Emergency and exit lights provide illumination in the event of a power outage, helping occupants safely navigate exit routes during an emergency. If lights are unlit, covered, or hard to see, people might become disoriented and take longer to evacuate, which increases the risk during a fire. This step involves a visual inspection to confirm that each exit sign is well-lit, unobstructed, and visible from various points within the space.
Example: In an office building, power outages caused by fire, severe weather, or electrical issues can leave hallways and stairwells completely dark. In a large retail store, illuminated exit signs near the back exits can be blocked by shelving or new merchandise. Ensuring that these signs remain visible and lit, even during a power outage, helps both customers and employees locate exits quickly in an emergency, minimizing potential injuries.
Checklist: It is important you have documented where all exit and emergency lights are located, that you visually inspect them every 30 days and conduct a 30 second “push button” test to ensure the battery backup is working correctly. The below checklist will document multiple exit and emergency light locations and provide documentation of inspection for a full year. This complies with NFPA 101 v2021: 7.9.3.1.2 and will keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Inspect Monthly: This topic does not require a checklist.
Inspect for any visual signs of damage or tampering.
Why it’s important: Fire alarm systems are the first line of defense in detecting and alerting occupants to a fire. If there’s visible damage or signs of tampering—such as cracked covers, disconnected wires, or disabled components—the system may fail to activate during an emergency. Be sure to contact Summit Fire & Security if you notice any damage during your inspection.
Example: In a retail space, alarm system panels and pull stations may be located in high-traffic areas where they are susceptible to accidental damage from shopping carts or shelving adjustments. Regular checks will help identify issues before they compromise the system’s reliability, allowing quick repairs or adjustments.
Inspect Monthly: This topic does not require a checklist.
Check the functionality of indicators and displays
Why it’s important: Fire alarm panels typically have indicators (such as lights or displays) that show the system’s status, including any errors or faults. Checking that all indicators are operational and displaying accurate information is essential for identifying potential issues before an emergency occurs.
Example: In an industrial facility with multiple zones, an indicator light showing a fault in a particular area might be the only way to know that a sensor is malfunctioning. By routinely checking these indicators, maintenance teams can proactively address any issues and ensure the system is fully operational throughout the facility.
Inspect Monthly: This topic does not require a checklist.
Verify batteries are installed and are not physically showing signs of damage.
Why it’s important: Batteries provide backup power to fire alarm systems, ensuring they remain functional during power outages. Damaged batteries may not hold a charge or deliver reliable power, which could lead to system failure in an emergency. Regularly inspecting batteries helps identify potential issues, such as leaks or corrosion, that could affect their performance and overall reliability.
Example: In a large office building, power outages from storms or construction can disable the main power source. The alarm system relies on backup batteries to keep running during these times, so checking that the batteries are properly installed and undamaged ensures alarms can still notify occupants in an emergency.
Inspect Quarterly: See checklist below.
Why it’s important: Fire department connections are an important adapting device so that your local fire department can hook up to your fire sprinkler system and give it an added boost.
Examples: Unfortunately, their locations are often in high-traffic public areas, therefore, they are often tampered with. The caps that prevent debris from getting inside the piping and adaption fitting, often get removed or damaged.
Checklist: This is one of a handful of visual inspections you can do to make sure this part of your fire sprinkler system is ready in an emergency. This checklist is taken directly from NFPA 25 v2023: 13.8.1 and will keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Inspect Monthly: See note about inspections below.
Check for visible signs of damage or corrosion.
Why it’s important: Fire extinguishers need to be in optimal working condition to perform effectively. Damage, corrosion, or dents to the cylinder or nozzle can compromise its ability to function. For example, a corroded extinguisher could leak or fail to discharge, leaving employees unprotected in an emergency.
Example: In an industrial kitchen, chemicals and moisture from daily cleaning can lead to corrosion on extinguisher surfaces over time. A monthly check will help ensure that any signs of rust or corrosion are caught and addressed before they affect the extinguisher’s functionality.
Monthly Inspection/Checklist: Fire extinguishers are the only defense occupants of a building have in fighting a fire to escape a building. They are conspicuously placed near exits and at critical locations in buildings with big floor plans.
A monthly visual inspection that each fire extinguisher is in its proper location, is not blocked or obstructed from view or access, and is properly charged with sufficient pressure in the cylinder is key to ensuring that the extinguishers are available and ready to be used in an emergency.
Our technicians’ annual maintenance tags provide 12 spaces on the back where you can verify each month’s inspection of each fire extinguisher.
Inspect Monthly: This topic does not require a checklist.
Ensure extinguishers are accessible and unobstructed.
Why it’s important: If extinguishers are blocked by equipment, storage items, or even large furniture, valuable seconds can be lost trying to reach them. Ensuring they’re always visible and easy to access helps building occupants respond faster in an emergency.
Example: In a warehouse, stacked pallets of products can easily obstruct the view of extinguishers mounted along walkways. Regularly clearing these areas and keeping the extinguishers visible and reachable ensures that employees can respond quickly if a fire breaks out near stored materials.
Inspect Monthly: This topic does not require a checklist.
Verify that pressure gauges are in the operational range.
Why it’s important: Pressure gauges indicate whether a fire extinguisher is charged and ready for use. If the gauge shows that the pressure is too low, the extinguisher could have a potential leak or structural weakness and may not discharge properly when needed. If the gauge shows pressure is too high, this could be due to temperature changes or malfunctions. Checking that the gauge is in the “green” zone—neither under- nor over-pressurized—is a simple but crucial step in ensuring the extinguisher will work as intended. Customers should also sign off on the back of the extinguisher tag each month, documenting that the pressure gauge has been checked. If any extinguishers read in the “red” zone, contacting Summit Fire & Security for servicing is recommended.
Example: In an office building, extinguishers are typically mounted along hallways and near exits. Due to temperature changes or age, the pressure in these extinguishers may drop over time. Verifying that the gauge reads within the “green” zone each month helps ensure they are fully charged and ready if needed.
Inspect Weekly and Monthly: See checklist below.
Operate the fire pump in a “no-flow” condition for 10 minutes either weekly or monthly depending on type. See below.
Why it’s important: Electric driven fire pumps are the most common type of fire pump available, if your fire sprinkler system was designed for one. They are critical to the operation of your fire sprinkler system.
Example: Electric driven fire pumps often offset the loss of pressure on the top floors of a high rise buildings, or help to increase pressure for large warehouse buildings to cover more square footage of space in the event of a fire.
Checklist: The fire pump room and the equipment inside of it must be visually inspected once a week to be sure that everything is on and ready to operate.
Only vertical turbine driven electric fire pumps or pumps connected to storage tanks are required to be operated in a “no-flow” condition for 10 minutes each week.
Most electric driven fire pumps must be operated in a “no flow” or “churn” for 10 minutes each month. If your buildings water supply comes from a public water source, you will only have to operate your fire pump on a monthly basis. A pump run on a regular basis ensures that everything is operational and that the pump will not seize up in the event of a fire. However, you will still be required to go through the steps of a visual inspection of the fire pump system and the room it is housed in on a weekly basis.
This checklist will guide you through the fire pump room and its features to ensure there are no obvious issues.
To consolidate the weekly and monthly checklist for electric driven fire pumps, we have put all inspection items on a weekly checklist, with a special note on Standard Electric Driven Fire Pumps “no-flow” operation to be done monthly. This complies with NFPA 25 v2023: 8.3.1.2.2, as well as the pump system and pump room inspection requirements found in NFPA 25 v2023 8.2.2, therefore, keeping you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Electric Driven Fire Pump & Pump Room Weekly (and Monthly) Inspection Checklist
Inspect Weekly: See checklist below.
Operate the fire pump in a “no-flow” condition for 30 minutes every week.
Why it’s important: Diesel-driven fire pumps offer your sprinkler system the affordability to not have to rely on a generator backup system, if there ever is a loss of power during a fire event. However, these robust pieces of equipment require weekly attention. You must operate the fire pump in a “no-flow” condition for 30 minutes every week.
Example: Much like a car or truck, if the diesel engine isn’t operated on a regular basis, fluids can sludge up and impact performance. There are also many auxiliary features that could greatly impact initial start up, via a proper fuel supply and batteries.
Checklist: Our checklist will guide you through the various items to visually inspect on the pump and its engine. You will also be able to quickly inspect the pump room that the equipment is located in to ensure that there are no obvious issues. This checklist is directly taken from NFPA 25 v2023: 8.3.1.1 and 8.2.2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Diesel Driven Fire Pump & Pump Room Weekly Inspection Checklist
Inspect Quarterly: See checklist below.
Why it’s important: Many of our customers have Summit Fire & Security scheduled quarterly to inspect and test their Wet Sprinkler Pipe and Standpipe Systems. If you are not contracted on a quarterly basis and only hire Summit Fire & Security for annual inspection and testing, you will have to conduct your own visual inspections quarterly on these systems. Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the most common fire suppression system in the world. They are 100% effective when installed and maintained properly.
Example: When a wet pipe sprinkler system is present and maintained properly, they have proven to reduce civilian casualty by 90% and injury 32%, as compared to buildings that do not have a fire sprinkler system. (Taken from NFPA, study by the US Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fire Incident Reporting Systems (NFIRS) They are the most cost effective and efficient fire suppression for heated buildings in the world, and prevent thousands of catastrophic events annually.
Checklist: This checklist will give you the opportunity to be sure critical portions of your Wet Sprinkler Pipe and Standpipe systems are in place. Taken from NFPA 25 v2023, this checklist will keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Fire Sprinkler Wet Pipe & Standpipe Inspection Checklist
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Ensure that control valves are in the open position and marked.
Why it’s important: Control valves must be in the open position for water to flow through the sprinkler system. If a valve is closed, the system will not activate correctly in a fire. Valves should be visibly marked to prevent accidental closure and checked regularly to confirm they’re in the correct position.
Example: In a commercial high-rise, control valves may be located in locked utility rooms or mechanical spaces. They can be closed unintentionally by someone on your property not understanding their importance, therefore, rendering your sprinkler system useless. Occasionally, maintenance activities or accidental tampering could leave a valve in the closed position. By checking that all control valves are open and clearly marked, building staff can help avoid disruptions in the sprinkler system’s functionality.
Checklist: NFPA requires you to visually inspect all the control valves on your property once a month. This checklist accommodates two control valves, however, you could have more than two on your property. We suggest you use this checklist and keep it by each of the control valves on your property. This is taken directly from NFPA 25 v2023: 13.3.2.2 and will keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Inspect Semi-Annually: Almost all fire suppression systems require semi-annual service, inspection and testing. These systems are protecting vital and unique pieces of equipment that are important to a businesses success. They require a qualified professional to be serviced. Contact a licensed Summit Fire & Security professional to have these systems inspected and tested on a semi-annual basis.
Why it’s important: Fire suppression systems are unique to the hazards they protect. They are usually in addition to a building sprinkler system and are specific to sensitive infrastructure items and sometimes highly flammable equipment. Whether you are a small local restaurant with a kitchen suppression system, or an industrial plant with CO2 systems protecting production equipment, these systems are vital to their successful operation, as a fire would be detrimental to the safety of those around and the success of business going forward.
Example: Industrial and CNC machinery often require lubricants that can easily set fire from the smallest spark. This can cause a serious life and safety concern for the operator, as well as, halt production and set a company back several months. These machines are also expensive to replace, therefore, maintaining a fire maintenance program will help protect a vital business asset.
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Why it’s important: The constant use of an open flame, the flammability of a vast majority of the cooking ingredients and the busy environment of a commercial kitchen, creates a perfect recipe for a fire event to happen. It is why they are the most frequently tested and maintained systems in the world of fire protection.
Example: A deep fryer overheating during a busy lunch rush could cause an immediate and life-threatening situation that a standard water filled sprinkler system could not maintain. Not only does a wet chemical agent dispense upon the hazard, the fuel supply to the cooking appliances will also be shutdown upon activation of the system.
Checklist: NFPA describes these systems as Wet Chemical Systems, after UL 300 updated the standard for what type of agent is required in a commercial kitchen. NFPA 10 requires that you perform a monthly Owner’s Inspection on your Wet Chemical (Commercial Kitchen) Fire Suppression system, to be sure your system is in the best shape possible in the event of a fire. This checklist is taken directly from NFPA 17A v2021: 8.2.2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Wet or Dry Chemical Monthly Owner’s Inspection Checklist
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Why it’s important: Dry chemical systems are most often used in industrial and manufacturing applications. One of the most popular uses of dry chemical is in paint or varnishing booths, as these are flammable environments that are not easily protected with a sprinkler system.
Example:A spark from a power tool could ignite flammable vapors inside a paint or varnishing booth. The immediate action of a dry chemical system is more effective than most sprinkler systems in this application.
Checklist: If you are familiar with a commercial kitchen owner’s inspection, you will find that a dry chemical system owner’s inspection is identical, word for word. Both types of systems operate the same, just with different chemicals of suppression. This checklist is taken from NFPA 17 v2021: 11.2.1.1 2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Link to Wet or Dry Chemical Monthly Owner’s Inspection Checklist
Inspect Monthly: See checklist below.
Why it’s important: Clean agent systems are almost always protecting critical infrastructure items that are sensitive. A standard water sprinkler system could do more damage than good in this environment. Clean agent provides a safe and effective type of suppression that will extinguish a fire and not ruin adjacent equipment in the process.
Example: Server data rooms are where these systems are utilized most frequently, however, they can be used in many other applications.
Checklist: A monthly visual inspection is required by NFPA to be sure that your clean agent system is in the best shape to perform. We advise you keep this inspection record near the system. The checklist is taken from NFPA 2001 v2022: 11.2.2 to keep you in compliance with any AHJ.
Full System Test and Inspection (NFPA 25, NFPA 72, NFPA 10, NFPA 2001, NFPA 12, NFPA 17)
Contact Summit Fire & Security to have a full system test and inspection performed by a licensed professional.
Regular tests and inspections are essential to keeping your fire and life safety systems in top working condition and ensuring your building remains protected year-round. A certified professional should perform both semi-annual and annual inspections to identify and address potential issues before they become serious problems.
Semi-annual tests and inspections typically cover key components like fire alarm control panels, notification appliances, kitchen suppression systems, certain sprinkler system components and agent suppression system cylinders.
Annual tests and inspections take a deeper look and investigate the proper operation of fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, suppression systems, fire extinguishers and emergency and exit lighting.
By staying on a consistent inspection schedule, you can improve system reliability, support code compliance, and create a safer environment for everyone in your building.
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